Festive Fontwell 2015

While the Northern part of the British Isles were experience the worst of the weather and water.. The Southern part of it basked in a mild, overcast clasp of the British winter.

Three race meetings south of the Watford gap. Wincanton, the main meeting of the day at Kempton Park and Fontwell Park, who sported seven races with a sell out crowd who came to flush out the Christmas festivities from the day before.

The Southern Cranes and Access LTD Juvenile Hurdle

The first race a 2m 1f Juvenile hurdle saw 8/1 shot Harley Rebel take the prize ridden by 7 lbs claimer Neil Mulholland. The ground telling throughout the whole of the meeting how heavy it was as the horses were well strung out when it came to the finish, with 21 lengths separating first and third.

This three year old by Cockney Rebel, with three wins know to his credit.The last one coming in the shape of a 1m 3f all weather flat race.

Only two chases in the card, the first one being a 2m 1 f Handicap event. Five runners to post, for a race that was packed with trials and tribulations.

The first being that 8/1 shot Highbury High unseated Shane Quinlan at the first and then continued to mould the race as he hampered the remaining runners. With Toohighforme being pulled up and Youm Jamil unseating Nick slatter four out, Tea Caddy and Showboater were the only two left standing. The loose  Highbury High three out went straight across the path of Paige Fuller on Tea Caddy causing the horse to fall at the fence, this left the 4/6 fav ridden by David Bass all alone to jump the remaining two fences and claim the prize.

Showboater 

Three hurdle races in quick succession saw the trio of races start off with a 2m 3f  Novice hurdle. Oliver Sherwood’s The Organist, ridden by Leighton Aspell made all and duly won the event by 28 lengths and made sure his favouritism of 1/7 was well placed. The trainer only choosing to put out two runners for the Boxing day racing extravaganza, the other being at Wincanton.

The Organist

 Trainer Oliver Sherwood

The Organist

Aspell again in the next hurdle event, a 2m 1 f handicap rode 10-1 shot Prouts Pub for local trainer Nick Gifford. Taking the lead from two out the Grand National winning rider bought home his festive double to beat Needless Shouting by 17 lengths

 Prouts Pub

Leighton Aspell

Could this be a quick treble for the Irishman? as he took 10/3 shot Tambura to post for the six runner 2m 5f Mares Handicap. Alas not, David Bass on 10/1 shot At First Light stayed on and denied him of the treble by three quarters of a length.

At First Light(David Bass) Tambura (Leighton Aspell)

At First Light

The second and last chase of the day, a long distance event in heavy going saw six runners go to post for the 3m 1 f handicap chase.2/1 fav Call The Detective was one of the only two finishes and saw off his opposition winning the race by 27 lengths. The only other finisher being Lady of Geneva, who was a firm favourite to back up her second and win at the course in soft ground throughout November and December, and ridden by in form Leighton Aspell.

Call The Detective

Call The Detective 

 The last race of the afternoon a 2m 5 f Conditional Jockeys handicap hurdle saw 3 lbs claimer Martin Blake make all on Harry Cobden’s Hassadin. The 5/1 shot with a drop in distance and fifty runs under his belt made only his third trip to the winners enclosure, which pleased the trainer no end, who hoped the drop in distance and ground would help the horse in his endeavours.

Hassadin

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A HAPPY VISIT TO OXFORDSHIRES NOEL

Trainer Noel Williams Racing

A small yard that nestles next to the larger set up of Eve Johnson-Houghton’s. White Shoot stables master Noel Williams prepares patiently his small string of jumpers.

An enthusiastic and well meaning trainer takes his visitors first up a long inclined tack to some all weather gallops shared and owned by his neighbours to see his four charges go about their paces up the 7 furlong woodchip surface.

Krackatoa King one of them, this promising chaser who has only had the one run over the larger obstacles showed his audience his paces and his size. As his trainer commented,  he calls the horse, the giant.

Other horses on show were some very nice three year olds. Some un- raced as of yet, but this showed how the trainer takes time with his charges as he says, ‘I don’t really go into statistics too much, i just concentrate on the horse and work from that. Some of these here this morning only worked for the first time at the weekend, and what I saw was very pleasing.’

This young trainer who, in his third season with about ten winners to his name crafted his knowledge from the stables of Alan King, where he was assistant trainer. And speaks very fondly of his time under the master of Barbury Castle.

The stables that are all full at present and situated in an 18 boxed American barn system that as the trainer mentioned works well for him. ‘They are well ventilated so the horses have plenty of fresh air all the time.’ The trainer also commented that in time, a move to larger premises could be on the cards.

 Midnight Jitterbug                                                                                                                    Cinderfella

All the horse looked happy and contented. And, did not seem to bother with the out of the norm invasion by a group of enthusiastic racing buffs wandering in amongst them. Horse such as Midnight Jitterbug an unraced bumper horse by Midnight legend and the appropriately named for the time of year Cinderfella. ( oh yes it was)

 The atmosphere of the whole yard set up was friendly and relaxed, helped by the mulled wine and minced pies on offer from Noel’s racing secretary Clare Ludlow.  A set up that surely in time, like all his horses will come to flourish and emulate the successes of his former boss.

So remember the name, don’t tell me you were not warned, this trainer is one for the future.

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Together with racing and Point to Point reports

Hursley Hambledon Point to Point at larkhill 13th December 2015

Six races,one charity race,overcast but no rain. The Stretches of Larkhill opened it’s doors for the new 2015-16 season.

Six races  over the timber laid out before  a one mile six furlong charity run for the Buckland Capital Gauntlet challenge.

Bushwacker

Laura Elliott on Bushwacker duly won this event. Known as ‘Hoover’ at home the eleven year old bay gelding was the first to grace the winners enclosure for the new season.

With the going good, four runners went to post for the members race, 3/1 fav Pateese ridden by Nick Lawton on his first ride for the season, made good the steady pace to bring this quirky ten year old home in font of Terra Bleu.

Lawton who is amateur jockey for Phillip Hobb’s yard said he was looking forward to the season with some possible nice maidens going at Chaddersley Corbett on the 28^th December.

Pateese 

Six runners for the ladies open. And this saw debutant point to point jockey Izzy Djivanovic take the lead as no one wanted to go on. And there she stayed to collect her first win off her first ride. ‘ This was’nt the plan, i was going to sit in behind and see how the race unfolded.’ The young jockey who also trained  the eight year old Rotablade, mentioned her boyfriend who is professional jockey  James Best gave her some tips of what and what not to do, but unfortunately was at Southwell riding, but as soon as she gets back in the weighting room a call will be put through.

Rotablade

David Maxwell bought home is own No Loose Change in the men’s open. From three out Maxwell took the ten year old to the front, accompanied by a loose horse and saw off the spirited challenge of Stan Sheppard on Join Together. The gelding not shy of the winner’s enclosure already notching up hunter chase wins at Fontwell and placed at Ascot. The race bought home also the quickest time of the day at 6 min 09sec.

No Loose Change

The restricted race, and in my mind the quality race of the day saw eight runners go to post. Horses in the field already on their second run of the season such as top lady jockey Gina Andrews mount Sin Bin who was second at Cottenham on the opening day of the season. 4/6 fav Sam Waley-Cohens mount Mr Simpkins though on his first run of the season took on the field around three fences out. And despite a spirited ride from Champion jockey Will Biddick on Luke Harvey’s Porlock Bay held on to win the race by six lengths.

Mr Simpkins 

The Open maiden, split now into two divisions with twenty three runners declared for the race.    Big Bad Barry winning the first division form Sugar Loaf Sholto. This the second winner for the afternoon for rider/owner David Maxwell who gave the ride to Alex Edwards after he had been to the yard to school the four year old. This second winner of the season for Edwards who was in the winners enclosure at Barbury the Sunday before.

Moss Valley Way and 2nd place Sugar Loaf Sholto Div I oPEN Maide

Bonzo’s Copse  completed though the fastest time of the two divisions, ridden by Stan Sheppard. This severn year old only in his second season point to pointing won well and would be one to watch were he is placed next time out.

Bonzo’s Copse Winner DivII

The biggest controversy though was held until the last race. The T.B.A mares and fillies race saw three runners go to post, and with the loss of Flying Guru going out to the bottom of the course the last time out. Posh Totty and Triggywinlke were left to compete for the winners prize.

Will Biddick on the Jack Barber trained Posh Totty came home uncontested a distance in front of the Mr Roderick Chelton trained Triggywinkle. But an objection was lodged by the owner of the second placed horse that the eight year old Posh Totty had not carried the correct weight.

Posh Totty 

The allowances were that if a horse who had won a open or mixed open since 2013 they would carry a 3lbs extra weight. Barbers horse, unknown to clerk of the scales or himself only carried 11st 7 lbs but had won races at Barbury three times.The same as Nick Lawton's mount. A lengthy stewards enquiry developed, the bookies already paid out and packed away on the result past the post, saw Posh Totty disqualified and Triggywinkle made up to first, still the debate loombs, as  the syndicate owners deciding whether to contact Weatherbys the next day,as the entry went through them and not the hunt directly, and was not picked up until after the race had run.

Still the chestnut mare by Midnight Legend won the event well, and should not be taken away from her efforts, and would be one to watch next time out. The administration error was investigated by the Larkhill stewards who saw no reason to drag out the punishments to trainer or owners and the loss of the race was the only bitter pill to swallow.

Posh Totty 

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LOADS OF JUMPERS AT FONTWELL PARK 8-12-15

With the run up to the festive period in full swing, Fontwell park billed it’s festive raceday and added a Severn race card to boot.

Sandwiched between two weekends of Grade A national hunt action, the racing was of good quality. The addition of a racegoers Christmas jumper competition also brightened the spirts of the well attended midweek crowd

A two mile novices hurdle started proceedings, with the going reported as being very testing for  all runners, it was left to four year old filly Katie Too, by Kings Theatre  to pick up  the race.

Jockey Wayne Hutchinson said  ‘ we’ve always liked this filly, having won her bumper at Newbury, and know winning over hurdles.’ This filly trained by in form master Alan King, only on her third outing is surely one to watch as time goes on.

Katie Too

Five runners took to the field for the two mile three furlong handicap steeple chase. The pace from the start a strong one soon had the field well strung out. Zero Visibility coming to the the last tired, but well clear of the remaining few runners, hardly took off and gave jockey Adam Wedge no chance.

Zero Visibility

It was left to Nick Gifford trained Toohighforme to take the race uncontested. Top Fontwell jockey Tom Cannon said,’ two out i was wondering if my fella was going to make it home himself. The blinkers helped, and he will come on from this run.’

Toohighforme

A two mile one furlong juvenile hurdle saw trainer Gary Moore welcomed back into the winners enclosure with top weight Darebin.

The three year old, who is a bit of a nervous type, settled, and beat his rival Extreme appeal by eleven lengths

Darebin.

Jockey Jamie Moore asked about stable superstar  Sire De Grugy, after his success at the weekend in the Tingle Creek ‘ He’s fine, the whole family are very happy, i was ridding him out in the dark at 6 AM this morning, even a van driver who passed me recognised him. He’s so relaxed even put his head through the cab door for him to have a stroke.’

The feature race of the day, a three mile one furlong chase. Top weight, David pipe trained Alternatif  

under Tom Scudamore, got up on the line to beat Pete the Feat by a length.

Scudamore said ‘ he’s a nice young sort that will make a nice staying chaser, we tried something a bit different today and it worked.’

Alternatif 

Trainer Chris Gordon, has’nt had too much to sing about the past few months, had Superciliary win the two mile one handicap hurdle. The 25-1 shot, beat favourite Tickity Bleue by eleven lengths in third under jockey Tommy Dowling.

Superciliary 

The last chase of the afternoon, a two mile five furlong event saw Lucy Wadham trained Amidon, under  Leighton Aspell beat Vic De Touzaine by a length.

Aspell asked about Many Clouds after the weekend ‘ wer’re happy, he needed the run and it proved it. The national still is the aim.’

Amidon

Thepartysover, saw that Fontwell’s festive party was definitely over, as the ten year old trained by Paul Henderson and ridden by jockey Tom O’brien who has had good success at the Sussex track this season win the last.

Thepartysover

Beating the Lady fro Geneva by sixteen lengths, the horse with  56 runs under his belt took his fifth win of his career.

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